Railway-tie.



Patented July I, I902.

No. 703,797. A

J. P. LANCASTER. RAILWAY TIE. (Applic'aizion filed Dec. 4, 1907.)

(No Model.)

vwgmloz.

attozmzp JOHN P. LANCASTER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH NICHOLAS VASEY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAIL AY-Tie.

SPEGIFIGACLION forming part of Letters Patent No. 703,797, dated. July 1, 1902. Application filed December 4, 1901- Serial No. 84,693. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it'ntcty concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN P. LANCASTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago,in the county of'Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Railway-Ties, of which the following is a specification. Y

This invention relates to improvements in metallic railway-ties, and refers more specifically to an improved metal tie having special means for fastening the rails thereto, whereby the structure is as a whole resilient and elastic to a certain extent, 1

Among the salient objects of the invention are to provide a construction which is char acterized by aifording a certain amount of elasticity between the rail and the foundationupon which the tie is supported, so that the tie resembles in its functional character istics the ordinary wooden tie now in most common use, to provide a form of fastening which cooperates with certain yieldable or re: silient members of the tie to fasten the rail firmly but yieldably and in such a manner that during the time the rail is supporting the weight of apassing train itis more firmly held than at other times, to provide a construction in which the tension or amount of force with which the .railj is clamped to the tie may be adjusted,toprovide a construction which will not tend to change its adjustment through'the action of vibration, wear, or changes in repeated temperature, to provide a construction which-may be economically manufactured and conveniently and cheaply assembled and seated in the road-. bed, and in general to provide a construction wherein are combined the principal advantages inherent to both metal and wooden ties without the usual disadvantages'of either and to hold the rails reliablyin true parallel relation.

To these ends the invention consists in-the matters hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, and the same will be readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings,in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a metallic railway-tie embodying a preferred construction of my invention. Fig. 2

appear.

is a' sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of said Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective of one of the fasteners. Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the cushioning-blocks.

In the present instance my tie comprises two main members, one of which constitutes a curved resilient plate, (designated 1,) and the ;spective rails, and resilient portions, as 5 and 6, interposed between the chair portions 4 and central portion of the tension member and" between the chair portions and outer ends of the tension member, respectively. --In the present instance the resilient portions 5 and 6 are formed-by extending the tension member downwardly and divergently from eachch'air portion 4 and then obliquely upwardly and divergently to points adjacent to the under surface of the top plate of the tiebody, as shown clearly in the drawings, the downwardly-divergent portions being designated 7 and the upwardly-divergent portions 81: A series of bolts 9 is inserted through the tension member and into the top plate of the tieebody, preferably and as shown therein avbolt being inserted near the end of each upwardly-inclined portion 8, as indicated at 10. Desirably I interpose between the under side of the tie-body and the proximate face of the tension member cushioning-blocks 11; but it is to be noted in this connection that the cushioning-blocks 11 at the outer ends of'the ten- ,sion member are capable of substantial compression for a purpose which will hereinafter It may also be noted inthis connection that said cushioning-blocksare' not indispensable, but may be dispensed with, if preferred, although they have a certain func- .tion,.as will be hereinafter explained in the description of the operation of the device.

At opposite sides of those portions of the tie-body across which the rails aresecured, and which portions for convenience of description will be designated the bed portionsofthe tie,are provided longitudinally-extending slots, as 13, these slots being situated ata distance apart somewhat greater'than the width of the bottom flange or base of the rail 14.

15 designates a series of clamps or fastening devices whereby the rail-body is secured to the tie. Each of said clamps 15 comprises a head portion 16, elongated longitudinally of the tie, a main body portion 17, likewise arranged to extend longitudinally of the tie and underneath the top plate thereof, and a connecting integral neck 18 uniting the head 16 and body 1'7. One end of the head portion of each of the clamps is arranged to overlie and engage the bottom flange or base of the rail, the opposite end of said head portion extending above the top surface of the tiebody, so as to covera portion of the slot therein, but not engaging the upper surface of the tie, while the neck portion extends down through the corresponding slot, and the main body portion 17 underlies said top plate, as indicated clearly in the drawings. The main body portion 17 of the clamp constitutes, in eifect, a lever which serves to hold the head portion thereof in clamping engagement with the base-flange of the rail. To this end said body portion is provided at a point intermediate its length upon its upper surface with a lug 19, adapted to rest in engagement with the under surface of the tie-body and constituting a fulcrum-point, while the end of the clam p-body opposite that end to which the head is attached is arranged to rest in bearing with the upwardly and outwardly inclined portion of the tension member, as shown clearly in the drawings.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that a relative upward movement of those portions of the tension member with which the ends of the clamp-bodies engage will result in an oscillation of the clampbodies about their fulcrum-points, and consequently result in increasing the tension of clamping pressure of the head portions thereof upon the engaging portions of the base of the rail. Inasmuch as the entire tie is embedded in the road-bed or foundation, it will be obvious that the passing of a heavy load over the rails will tend to depress the tie at the two points whereon the rails are seated more than at other points in the length of the tie, and inasmuch as the foundation material is in direct bearing with all portions of the under surface of the tension member the inclined portions 8 thereof with which the lever-clamps are engaged will remain immovable and will therefore rise relatively to those portions of the tie which yield during the weight thereon. It will of course be understood that this -yielding will be very slight; but to whatever extent it occurs it will to the same extent increase the clamping action of the clamps upon the rail.

In order that the clamps may have an additionalibearing which will positively prevent the lifting of the rails, each is provided with a lip-like extension 20 adjacent to its head end, which extends beneath the top plate of the tie at the inner end of the slot therethrough, as indicated clearly in the drawings, it being understood that these lips are arranged to fit as accurately against the under side of the tie-plate as possible consistent with adjusting the device into position.

In order to hold the clamps positively against lateral movement, so as to prevent the displacement of the rail laterally, I provide filling-blocks 21, adapted to lit in the slot of the tie-plate, between the neck portion of the clamp and the outer end ofthe slot, of the two slots at the outer sides ofthe rails.

As a further means of preventing endwise I movement of the clamp I construct the end thereof which rests in engagement with the inclined portion of the tension member with a corresponding beveled or inclined surface 22, which fits against the surface of the tension member with sufficient accuracy to prevent any endwise movement of the clamp.

Inasmuch as the inclined ends 22 of the clamps rest directly against the tension member, it will be obvious that by adjusting said inclined portions of the tension member toward or from the top plate of the tie-body the degree of tension with which the clamps act upon the rail may be varied and adjusted In this connection it may be eX- at will. plained that the cushioning-blocks 11, hereinbefore referred to, if employed must be of sufficiently yielding nature to permit the necessary adjustment of the tension member by tightening or loosening the several bolts which serve to unite the tension member and tie-body and which are shown in the present instance as extending through said cushionblocks.

ICC

In assembling the tie and rails thereon the pair of clamps which engage the outer sides of the two rails are first placed in position and the filling-blocks inserted within the slots between the necks of said clamps and the ends of the slots. These filling-blocks may be readily inserted by simply placing them in the opening between the tail portion of the head and the main body of the clamp before the latter has been passed downwardly through the slot too far, the rounded lower surfaces of the lips 20 permitting the clamp to be adjusted into its normal position readily after the filling-blocks have been thus inserted. The-inner pair of clamps 15 is'next adjusted through the slots in the tie, and it may be noted in this connection that the filling-blocks are not employed in connection with this pair of clamps, for the reason that the latter are sufficiently held against endwise movements by engagement with the tension member, in

asmuch as there is no considerable stress upon the rail tending to move it inwardly or toward the opposite rail. The pairs of clamps 15 having been thus adjusted within the tiebody, the tension member is next placed in position and the bolts inserted, but notdrawn tight. The inner clamps, or those which engage the inner sides of the rails,are now moved longitudinally of the tie toward each other to the inner [ends of their respective slots, in which position the bases of the rails may be passed between the ends of the clamps and underneath the ends or overhanging portion of the outer clamps. The other clamps are then moved up into bearing with the opposite sides of the rails, after which the several bolts are tightened to the desired extent.

The removal of the rail is obviously the exact reverse of the operation last described.

It may be noted that in use the tension member will be placed under considerable tension by the securing-bolts, so that the rail will always be held reliably to the tie-body; but nevertheless there will be sufficient resiliency in the structure to readily compensate for the yielding or springing incident to the passing of heavy trains over the rails and also to compensate for contraction and expansion due to. It will be underchanges in temperature. stood from the foregoing that the details of construction may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction shown herein, except to the extent that the same are made the subject of specific claims. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1. In a railway-tie, the combination of a main tie-body apertured at each side of the rail-seat thereon, lever-clamps arranged to extend through said apertures and fulcrumed upon the under side of the tie-body between their ends, and a tension member united with the tie-body and cooperating with said clamplevers, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a railway-tie, the combination of a main tie-body, provided at each side of its rail-seat portions with apertures, clamp-levers mounted in said apertures to extend through the tie-body, a tension member consisting of a bar-like body of resilient metal having parts arranged to rest in direct bearing with the under surface of the tie body, and other parts supported free from the tiebody, said clamp-levers being fulcrumed beof, a tension member arranged beneath saiddiate portion immovably secured to the tiebody, and resilient portions between said intermediate and chair portions, and between the latter and ends of the tie respectively, ar-

ranged at a distance from the under surface of the tie, clamp-levers arranged to extend through said slots, and fulcrumed between their ends upon the under surface of the tiebody and engaging at their opposite endsthe rail-body and resilient portions of the tension member respectively, and adjusting bolts extending through said tension member and the tie-body, substantially as described.

4:. In a railway-tie, the combination with a main tie-body provided with longitudinallyextending slots located adjacent to, and at each side of the rail-supporting portions thereof, a tension member arranged beneath said tie -body having chair portions arranged to rest directly in bearing with the under surface of the rail-seat portions of the tie, an intermediate portion immovably secured to the tie-body, and resilient portions between said intermediate and chair portions,and between the latter and ends of the tie respectively, arranged at a distance from the under surface of the tie, clamp-levers arranged to extend through said slots, and fulcrumed between their ends upon the under surface of the tiebody and engaging at their opposite ends the rail-body and resilient portions of the tension member respectively, and adjusting-bolts extending through said tension member and being arranged to engage inclined portions of the tension member, whereby endwise movement of the clamp-levers is prevented, substantially as described.

5. In a railway-tie, the combination with a main tie-body provided with longitudinallyextending slots located adjacent to, and at each side of the rail-supporting portions thereof, a tension member arranged beneath said tie-body having chair portions arranged to rest directly in bearing with the under surface of the rail-seat portions of the tie, an intermediate portion immovably secured to the tieebody, and resilient portions between'said intermediate and chair portions,and between the latter and ends of the tie respectively, arranged at a distance from the under surface of the tie,.clamp-levers arranged to extend through said slots, and fulcrumed between their ends upon theunder surface of the tiebody and engaging at their opposite ends the rail-body and resilient portions of the tension member respectively, and adjusting bolts extending through said tension member and the tie-body, the slots in the tie-body being made of greater length than those portions of the clamp members which rest therein when the latter are in operative positions,whereby. said head and said body portion and abutting said clamp-levers may be shifted longitudi- I said neck, substantially as described.

nally of the tie-bodyin assembling the struc- In testimony whereof I have hereunto set ture. my hand in presence of two subscribing wit- 5 6. The combination With a tie having a slot .nesses.

thereimof a fastener mounted in said slot and 1 comprising a head portion,a body portion and v JOHN LANCASTER a neck connecting said headto said body por- Witnesses:

tion intermediate their extremes, and a block y Y ALBERT H. GRAVES,

io seated in said slot and located intermediate FREDERICK O. GOODWIN. 

